System of preparing filled bobbins.



- A. B. MORSE. SYSTEM OP PREPARING FILLED BOBBINS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI] 11, 1913;

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

@6a/JM Mme@ 'sei-iai No. *dichiarata May 1o, 1913, a1-

ALFRED B. MORSE, OF SOUTH EASTGN, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM 0F PBEPARING FILLED BOBBINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

Application filed June 11, 1913.` Serial No. 772,994. v

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, ALFRED B. Moi-isn, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of South Easton, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Systems of Preparing Filled Bobbins, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters o-n the drawings representing like parts. This invention relates to a system of handling, pressing, steaming and drying bobbins which have been filled with thread preparatory to the use of the same in a loom, such, for example, as a go-through lace machine.

n preparing filled bobbins for use in a machine, it is now customary to first wind the bobbins, then to place a large number on spindles in a cage, and subject the filled bobbins, while in such cage, to considerable pressure and subsequently to moisten or steam the bobbins while so held under pressure and then to dry them so that they will become set in their compressed condition.

t is the object of my present invention to provide a system for economically, conveniently and expeditiously handling` a large number of such bobbin cages when filled, and to subject them to the several compressing, steaming and drying processes in rapid succession with a minimum of hand labor. Preferably I employ with my present invention, a hydraulic press of the type shown and described in my copending application though other suitable compressing means could be utilized in carrying out this feature of the invention. p

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus permitting the handling of a large number of bobbin cages at once and subjecting the entire number to the moistening or steaming operation simultaneously, and then transferring the cages while still hot from the steaming receptacle directly to a drier where the compressed and still hot filled bobbins are subjected to a ldrying heat, preferably an air current, rendering them at once ready for use in a loom, go-through lace machine, or the like. It will be readily appreciated that the cages carrying a considerable number of filled bobbins, often two or three hundred on each cage, weigh nearly a hundredpounds, and the constant lifting and handling of these cages up to a compressing machine, such as that shown in my copending application above mentioned, or other pressing apparatus, then removing such cages when compressed, transporting to another receptacle, for steaming or drying, and again lifting in the cages, all this being hand work, requires a considerable number of operators and is slow and exhaustive. Also in such transferring by hand, it has been impossible, heretofore, to move a cage full of bobbins from the steaming receptacle to the drier, while still at a high temperature of heat. My apparatus enables such transfer to be accomplished quickly and almost instantly, enabling the steamed cages and bobbins to be placed in the drier while still hot from the steaming operation, and thereby to facilitate the drying operation.

In carrying out my present invention, I utilize a system of transfer cars and a short length of track, arranging a steaming receptacle at one end of the track, a drier at the other and a press, preferably as shown in my said copending application, intermediate the steamer and drier. l also arrange suitable loading and unloading platforms adjacent the drier, and the transfer car with its loading deck on a level with both loading and unloading tables, and on t-he same level as the press on which the cages are slid for the compressing operation. These cars are of sufficient size to carry a considerable number of cages, and in the practice of my invention, I utilize at least two of such transfer cars. An empty car having been loaded with cages of filled bobbins at the loading station, will then be run to the hydraulic press or the like, and the cages slid ofi' the platform of the car on to the cylinder of the press, compressed, and returned to the car, one operator being suflicient to handle the cages and press at this point. When all the bobbins have been compressed, the car is then run into the steaming receptacle, the doors closed and the steam turned on. A second caris then loaded and taken to the press, and its cages subjected to the compressing operation. This second car may then be switched off to a side track, and the car with steamed bobbins transferred from the steaming receptacle to the drier, when the second car is then moved into the steaming drum or receptacle. As soon as the bobbins have been dried, the car is moved out, and the cages unloaded and the car again loaded with uncompressed cages of filled bobbins and the cycle of operations just described, is repeated. In carrying out this system, it is an important feature that the press is provided with suitable guides and stops so that the operator can simply push or slide a cage off the deck of the car on to the cylinder of the press, and the cage will be automatically guided into proper position for the compressing operation. It will be realized that in handling these cages it is necessary to have the same accurately positioned upon the cylinder of the press, in order that the spindles carrying the bobbins may register with the cooperating means on the press, permitting the pressing operation of such cages. By having such guides and stops, a large number of cages can be handled successively and expeditiously, each being centered in proper position, and thus greatly facilitating the compressing of the entire carload.

Other features of the invention, no-vel combinations of parts, and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the arrangement of press, steaming receptacle, drier, loading and unloading stations and track, embodying a preferred form of the invention; Fig. Q is a side view of the devices shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing a transfer car in position at the press; and Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the steaming receptacle with a transfer car in position therein.

It will be understood that while have herein shown an extremely simple form of apparatus to carry out my novel system for preparing lled bobbins, in an expeditious manner, and with the employment of two transfer cars, it is of course feasible to utilize a pluralityT of transfer cars and steam drums and driers, depending upon the capacity of the compressing stat-ion, and the length of time in which the compressed bob` bins are kept at the steam drum and drier. These conditions may vary depending upon the class of work, capacity of the press, weight, etc., of the work being handled.

I have shown in Fig. 1 a hydraulic press in conventional outline with the head or top part omitted, which press is preferably like that shown in my copending application above mentioned, said press being indicated at 1. Adjacent the press on one side is a steam drum 2, and on the other side a similar drying receptacle, which may also be a drum 3. A. track a leads from the steam drum to the drier, past the press 1 and also by a loading station or platform 5 and an unloading station G. The size of the steaming and drying receptacles are suliicient to enable the track 4C to be laid therein, and a suitable transfer car 7 to be run therein, with its load of bobbin cages. These cages 8, as shown in Fig. 3, are of usual form and a considerable number may be positioned upon the transfer car 7, as indicated in Fig. 1. The transfer car having been loaded at the .station 5 is moved to the press 1 which has the level of its cylinder 9 on a level with the deck of the transfer car 7, so that the cages may be easily and readily slid off from the car on to the cylinder 9. Preferably l arrange a short table 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and preferably also affix to the top of the cylinder 9 of the press, flaring guides 11 and a stop 1Q to facilitate the positioning of a cage supply upon the cylinder 9, thus automatically serving to position the cages and saving the time otherwise required to center each cage. It will be understood that these cages must be carefully positioned upon such apress, in order that the spindles 13 of the cage on which the bobbins are-held may register with the cooperating tubes la in the head of the press, as explained in my said copending application. [i car is moved along from time to time as the various cages thereon are first slid on to the press 1, compressed, slid back on to the ear, and another cage moved in for the compressing operation, as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 1. Then the bobbins on all the cages have been compressed, the car is then moved into the steam drum 2, the doors 15 therein are closed, and steam turned on through a pipe 16 from any suitable source of supply. Meanwhile, a second car may be moved into position from a spur track 17, and loaded with cages, and then moved to the compressing station. rt any time during the compressing of the bobbins cn this sec-ond car, after the first car full of cages has been steamed sufficiently, the second car may be switched oft' on the spur track 17 and the first car moved quickly from the steaming drum 2 to the drier 3, doors closed on said drier, and a current of dry air -)assed therethrough by means of pipes 18 and 19. from a blower or thelike. I have indicated a transfer car in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in position in the drier, and preferably arrange the air pipes 1S and 19 at alternate ends and with the intake pipe 1S at the lowermost posit-ion, and the out-going pipe 19 at the uppermost position, so that the entire mass of steamed bobbins are subjected to the drying influence of the air current in a convenient and efficient manner. A second transfer car may then be moved into the steaming receptacle when the compressing of the bobbins in the cages carried by it has been completed at the pressing station for the neXt step, z'. c. the steaming. When the first car has been in the drier a suliicient length of time so that the steamed. bobbins are properly dried and set, the car is moved out of the drier and the cages unloaded on the platform 6. Another load of filled cages is then moved on to the transfer car from the loading platform 5 and the compressing, steaming and drying operations are repeated.

By means of the system and apparatus just described, I am enabled to handle a. large number of filled bobbins and cages and prepare the same by compressing, steaming and drying, so that they will be set and in condition for use in a loom very quickly and with a minimum of labor. Also by zii-rang ing the drying and steaming receptacles in Vclose proximity, a transfer car containing the steamed and hot cages of compressed bobbins can be at once moved into the drier for the subsequent drying operation without material loss of heat from the bobbins, and thus the subsequent drying is more quickly completed than would otherwise be possible. It is, of course, within the purview of Jche inventio-n to arrange the press, loading and unloading stations, steaming and drying receptacles in other positions, such, for example, as on a circular track, but I prefer the apparatus in position as shown, being a convenient arrangement so that one operator may handle the entire apparatus. This affords great saving in labor, as heretofore it has required several operators to lift the cage up to and down from the press, and into and out of each of the steaming and drying receptacles, as well as manually transporting them from one position to another. In the latter case the cages and bob bins, after being steamed, of course cooled down, and it required considerable time to dry them efliciently and satisfactorily. By means of my system, as above explained, I am enabled to utilize to the fullest capacity a hydraulic press and the steaming and drying receptacles at the same time with a minimum of labor.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the kind described,

comprising a press equipped to operate upon cages of lled bobbins, a steaming receptacle adjacent thereto, a drier, in combination with a transfer ear to transfer compressed bobbins from the press to the steaming receptacle, and thence to the drier, as successive steps in the operation of preparing filled bobbins for use.

3. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a press equipped to operate upon cages of filled bobbins, a steaming receptacle adjacent thereto, a drier, in combination with a transfer car having capacity to t-ransfer a large number of cages simultaneously from the press to the steaming receptacle and thence to the drier.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a steaming receptacle, a drier, a press arranged intermediate said receptacle and drier, loading and unloading stations adjacent the press, and a transfer car having capacity to carry a large number of cages of filled bobbins into said steaming receptacle and into said drier, arranged with its deck substantially on a level with the press cylinder and with said loading and unloading stations.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a steaming receptacle, a drier, a press arranged intermediate said receptacle and drier, a transfer car having capacity to carry a large number of cages of illed bobbins into said steaming receptacle and into said drier, arranged with its deck substantially on a lev-el with the press cylinder, and guiding means on said press to position automatically a cage of filled bobbins into compressing positions, when slid from the transfer car on to the press.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED B. MORSE.

Witnesses:

G. RUSSELL HoLBRooir, HENRY J. MULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti,

Washington, D. G. v 

